Arm Wrestling

       There was a fierceness in his eyes as he stared me down.  I stared back trying to discourage him from continuing his efforts toward my defeat.  Both our arms were strained but both of us were prepared to go all the way.  “Give it up” I encouraged to which he said, “No!”  Our muscles pounded for what seemed like an hour when the reality was only a few minutes, and still, we were basically deadlocked ‘in battle’.  Eventually my arm began to grow weary and give way, so I fought back as hard as I could.

       Ultimately, I was defeated and victory became my opponent’s.  What you don’t know in this true life story is that it was an embarrassing defeat for me.  Why, you ask?  Well, thanks for asking…  You see, at the time I was 21-ish and my opponent was my male cousin…  and he was only eight-ish at the time.  Okay, before you think I let him win, know that I tried my best and failed to defeat an eight year old at arm wrestling.  Really, I don’t think I’ll ever live that one down!  Nonetheless I learned that day that strength can be deceiving.

The LORD God is my strength… Hab. 3:19

…Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. Ps. 81:1

…God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Ps. 46:1

The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.  Ex. 15:2

He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. Luke 1:51

       These are only some of the scriptures about God’s strength, which infinitely exceeds the strength of any man who ever lived.  According to many writers, our God is not only strong, but He is our strength.  And that strength translates into Him being strong enough to: provide refuge, save, heal and deliver us from any bondage we are in.

       As I was weakening under the muscle strain of arm wrestling, so we become weak in times of worldly strain.  When we are weak and ready to give up, He is the One we need to run to for help- and we know He can deliver it.  The Lord can be counted on.  “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”  (Nm. 23:19)

       The Bible reminds us to “Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” (1Ch. 16:11) so we may be confident in His strength, and though we are weak and fail continually, realize He is able to continue the work in us until completion (Php 1:6).  We need to stop relying on our own strength which ultimately fails, but to count on the Lord for His strength which will endure as long as He does- and that is forever!

       Be encouraged today that God is not a weak 21 year old, or weak like a world champion arm wrestler, but is all powerful with unlimited strength for He holds the worlds in their place (Heb. 1:3) and they do not fail because of Him (Is. 40:26).  Be left with this charge:

…be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.    Eph. 6:10

Messy Face

       When my daughter was a year and a half, she was feeding herself well.  What that means is she was getting most of the food in her mouth but the rest ended up on the floor or more likely on her clothes or in her hair and on her face.  I never did understand how you could possibly get cereal behind your ears, but if there was any way possible for food to appear in unexpected places, my daughter would find it.

       I remember this one particular day when she was eating yogurt, and being fairly proficient with a spoon it shouldn’t have been a problem, but I returned to the room to find her entire face covered with pink goop.  In frustration I wondered if she would ever stop being so messy and I reached to grab the wet cloth to start cleaning her up.  Before I could even get to the washrag, she looked up at me with her big, ‘innocent’ brown eyes and smiled as she shoveled more yogurt into her mouth using her hand!  Of course my heart melted and I laughed at the joy in her face.

       We all lead ‘messy’ lives.  Messy lives full of laughter and loss, happiness and hurt, brilliant moments and embarrassing moments (I have lots of those J ), great oratory and angry words…  life is messy because we are in it and we are human and flawed.  So, sometimes we add to the mess, and other times it is others or nature itself that contributes to the mess, but that is life.  And our lives are fleeting, “…even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” Jm. 4:14  It is often the messy things of life that cause us stress and frustration.  We’d like everything to go smoothly, but it doesn’t.

       In our plans, we get everything accomplished that we want or need to get done.  In our schedule, the kids are never late getting ready, the car never gets a flat, the traffic jam never leaves us late for work, and Timmies gets our drive thru order right the first time- and we aren’t prevented from getting our blog post done on time!  See, no mess…  But that isn’t reality, so we have a choice to let the messiness bring us down, or accept it, step by step get through it, and trust God to make the best of it.  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Rom. 8:28

       God has a plan and purpose for our lives and it won’t be as neat and tidy as we’d like- but it sure will be more interesting.  His plans for us now include us maturing, and His plans for our future are an eternal life of peace and joy.  In between is the journey that helps us mature and grows our character in ways we cannot imagine.  We need be okay with the messiness of life and trust the Lord (who loves us) more:

There are many devices (plans, intentions) in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel (advice, plan, purpose) of the LORD, that shall stand.  Pr. 19:21

A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. Pr. 16:9

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.  Jer. 29:11

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.  Jm. 1:2-4

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  Pr. 3:5,6

Lord, help us trust in You more, and lean on our own ways less.

A Little Angry Right Now

ChristArt.com

       As my daughter was watching a tv show, I commented on the fact a couple was finally getting married though they were already living together and had a 3 yr old son.  Her comment to me was “That’s normal!”  Normal is defined as: the usual, average, or typical state or condition.  So, I guess she’s right.  The usual, typical condition of this world is sinful.  How sad for us that sin is so prevalent we don’t even think negatively toward it, but shrug it off as just ‘what is’.  When did we become so indifferent to sin?

       I’m pretty tired of being told: it’s normal to have sex before marriage.  It’s normal to bear children out of wedlock.  It’s normal to ‘borrow’ things from work, to have someone lie for you about being home, to avoid paying taxes, to drive above the posted maximum, to charge more profit than needed for an item or service, etc.  The sad thing is- I’d like to say it isn’t the same within the church, the “called out ones”, but it is and we surely don’t appear called out from the world when we’re acting the same.  How will our children know the truth if we never take a stand against sin? 

It starts in our own lives:

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.  Rom. 6:12

So put to death your worldly impulses: sexual sin, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry).  Col 3:5

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.  Rom. 6:6

We are to be an example:

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. 1Cor. 11:1

The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. Lk. 6:40

Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.  Php. 3:17

And follow Jesus Christ:

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.  Mt. 16:24

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:  Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 1Pt. 2:21,22

Stand against sin:

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them… But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light…  Eph. 5:11,13

Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.  Is. 58:1

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men…  2Cor. 5:11

Why?

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men…  Rom. 1:18

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world…  Acts 17:30,31